Mark Artis aka Texas Thunder Performance Roll Cage

[lxmodguy]

I know most of you probably dont follow my build in the new hemi section. I wanted to share this to make sure that you avoid using him if possible. I know recently he did a blue road runner that was very fast. I wish I could find that guy to ask him to check all his weld. I have absolutely no doubt that if I had crashed my car at 150 plus mph I would have died in the crash. That is not being dramatic, that is what 3 NHRA cage inspectors told me. All of them told me to cut the cage out and start over. This is a guy I trusted, I guy I thought was my friend. I took the car straight from him to the paint shop and didnt scrutinize the cage like I should of. He did an on job of welding the joints that showed. These pictures are the backside and bottoms of basically all the welds. At this point he will not stand behind his work because I cut the cage out. I would not allow him to cut it loose and re-weld it. First off, it would never pass certification, second my life and safety are worth more to me than letting this man touch my car to do anything else to it. Judge for yourself. If you know the guy from houston that Mark did his b5 blue road runner in the last 6-9 month PLEASE have him check the welds.

 

[conv67bdere]

Thanks for sharing this information and providing this useful product review to all of the members of FBBO - in this day of lack of customer service, it's good to know which companies to avoid . . .

You sure have found one that I will never do business with . . . sorry for your double expense, but you are VERY correct, your life is worth more than that to have it done RIGHT !

And from the looks of your car - you are a stickler to details - I love to follow your build ! !

 

[lxmodguy]

I actually meant to put this in the racers forum. I asked cranky to move it. It applies most to them. I know hes worked on at least 3 other members cars. They need to check them ASAP

 

[bobtile]

Those welds are even worse than mine. Why did you accept that?

 

[mmissile]

Wouldn't have taken me 5 seconds to see that crap. I take it you never checked on the progress of the build?

 

[eldubb440]

looks like Ray Charles welded that

 

[snakeyes]

ouch he is no welder ,he would not pass the test needed to become a cert. welder

 

[Cranky]

I know this shop and that's not normal for them. Something must be up......

 

[451Mopar]

Wow that is pretty bad. Hope it was mild steel and not chromoly.

Time for me to go to my night school welding classes, so far straight A's, and my welds were better than that before I started classes.

 

[bobtile]

I know this shop and that's not normal for them. Something must be up......

Even if it was a new guy to the shop, someone needs to be responsible for making sure it's done right.

 

[Cmmopar]

Perhaps it's just termites?

 

[lxmodguy]

He was the only one to weld on this cage, I know that for a fact. No one else works there anymore

 

[dieseldazzle]

Was he not present when you picked the car up or had it dropped off to you and lean in for two seconds?

not tryin to be a duck but it literally would have taken two seconds to be like wtf??

 

[lxmodguy]

If you look at the pictures you will see the welds on top were ok. He was deliberate on those. All those welds are the backside and bottoms. Some of em I couldnt even see until I got it cut out. Then I was like HOLY ****

 

[lxmodguy]

And those that think I might be embelishing a bit.......here is the rear 4 link work he did

 

[1962polara]

Is this a licenced contractor? Can he be reported to authorities ? I can see a crime of manslaughter in his future unless all of his previous work is checked & rectified.

No excuses here ,that's just dishonest & dangerous . Glad you caught it!

 

[kiwigtx]

I've heard of 'Bird-****' welding before, but that doesn't even come close. You can't tell me that this guy has a Welding Certificate.
That looks like my first attempt at Night School more than 30 years ago.

I hope you can get this fixed up for a good price if the original guy doesn't pitch in a few dollars.

 

[gmcgone*gtx]

I'm not a facebook fan but, I did a search on google for this shop and this is what popped up.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Thunder-Performance/496907397000544

Seems that this guy doesn't have any regard for anyones life.

 

[Pugly]

I know the guy who owns the Blue Roadrunner that was done about a month or two ago. Mark (or someone there) installed a 4 link (I believe).. anyway, I will tell him to look it over. He has already had John Harrison in Houston check out the car at the track, not for issues, but just met john at the track and John helped the guy out setting up the shock settings. He said John looked it over and said it was a good install. Again, the guy wasn't expecting any issues, so it wasn't an inspection or anything but it never hurts to look something over twice.

I prefer to stay out of the rest of this as I know a lot of these guys.....

 

[Mocajava]

All of these shops that do contract work for customers should have a Quality Control policy/ program that is readily available for scrutiny by the customers. Not only is it protection for the common Joe wanting work done and relying on quality work he can trust, but it protects the business from terrible publicity and even law suits when tragic things happen. The aspect that this type of work was deliberately hidden (as it appears from the description) is even worse than an accidental screw up from an inexperienced welder doing the work....malicious intent. Cheers to you Lxmodguy for NOT letting him fix his screw up and warning others about your experience! No telling who or how many others you may have saved from getting hurt or maimed. Mocajava